Cutting element for ice cubing machines



May 13, 1947. w. c. PFEIL CUTTING ELEMENT FORICE CUBING MACHINES Filed March 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ZULU Lam Carl PfeLL,

BY v 9- F124,. d m l l w May 13, 1947. w. C. PFE|L 2,420,400.

I CUTTING ELEMENT FOR-"10E CUBING MACHINES 7 Filed March 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVEN TOR.

LhrZPfeLZ,

Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

CUTTING ELEMENT FOR ICE CUBING MACHINES '9 Claims.

This invention relates to ice cubing machines and more particularly to the fluid-heated tube type. In this type, grids of fluid-heated cuttin tubes receive the solid blocks or slabs of ice and by the heat of the tubes cut them up into small cubes suitable for the desired uses. Machines of this type are disclosed in the Pfeil Patents Nos. 2,165,573 and 2,316,282, of July 11, 1939, and April 13, 1943, respectively.

In this type of machine the tubes forming the cutting element are necessarily small to avoid waste of the ice and should be thin-walled and of good heat conductivity for efiicient operation.

They are subjected to the heat of the water or steam flowing through them and to the pressure and weight of the blocks and slabs of ice being cut into cubes, which tend to bow, deflect and deform them from their initial straight-line normal position between their strongly supported ends.

When beryllium copper or other metal capable of being tempered is used for the tubes, in an effort to accomplish the desired action of returning to normal position after being bowed in cutting, a hardness is produced in the metal as the result of obtaining the desired spring quality or rate therein and tends to cause the tubes to snap and break at their mountings.

Brass or other like ductile metal has been found to be a desirable material for the tubes, but its ductility permits the tube to take up a permanent bow set under the conditions and hence it does not return to its original straight-line position when the pressure or weight is removed.

It is desirable, however, that these cutting tubes should slightly bow or flex during the cutting operation to relieve the metal of undue strain due to the weight and pressure of the ice carried thereby, but they should reflex and return to normal straight-line position at the end of the operation and not take up a, permanent bow, flex or distortion, which would result in improper operation of the machine.

An object of this invention broadly is to overcome the objections mentioned and to provide a cutting element which permits the use of the best material in the heating tubes for efiiciency in operation, and which, while desirably bowing or flexing during cutting to avoid undue strains, will return without breakage to the original straight-line position between the supports at the end of the cutting operation.

In carrying out this and other objects of the invention, as will hereinafter appear, a heating element is provided comprising a reflex member,

preferably in the form of a rod afiixed to the cutting tube which functions to cause return of the cutting tube to its original position after being bowed or flexed in operation. This reflex member is preferably a rod of substantially the same diameter as the cutting tube and is afiixed immediately to the rear thereof or opposite the cutting edge or front of the tube, whereby it does not interfere with the cutting function of the tube in passing through the ice or its or their passage therethrough. The tube may be of brass or other material found most suitable for the cutting of the ice. The reflex member is preferably of suitable strong spring material, such as tool steel drill rod, and is solidly and continuously attached to the tube, as by brazing or otherwise. It extends throughout the length of the tube and permits forming a strong, non-breakable connection with the tube mountings.

A cutting element thus formed permits the use of the best material for the heating tube,

desirably bows or flexes slightly under the weight of the ice when passing through it and reflexes under the influence of the reflex member to normal position when through the cutting operation. It does not snap and break at the supports, is of long life and efficient in operation.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example but not of limitation, one practical embodiment of the invention, in which drawings the same reference characters are used throughout for the same parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ice cutting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the vertical front grid of the machine for cutting the ice cake into horizontal slabs;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the horizontal grids for finishing cutting of the ice slabs into cubes;

Fig. 4 is a view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing a portion of the end connections of the cutting tubes;

Fi 5 is a similar view of a portion of the edge of the grid of Fig. 3 showing the cutting tube connections;

Fig. 6 is a face view of the cutting element for cutting the ice;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 8 shows the generally bowed position the cutting element assumes in passing through the ice, the block of ice being indicated by the broken lines and moving in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the cutting element, the forward end being in transverse section;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of one of the end mounting bushings of the cutting element;

Fig. 11 is a cross section of the same on line H-H of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a view of the ordinary cutting tube showing the set how it tends to assume after cutting operations.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, in the particular machine shown there is a suitably supported table I slightly sloping downwardly toward the rear rear at the forward portion which supports a track composed of side guides 2 and 3 and ribs 4 for guiding a cake of ice placed thereon and moving rearwardly toward a vertical grid of horizontal cutting elements 5 suitably mountedon a grid frame within the housing 6 for effecting the first cutting operation, that is, of cutting theeake of ice into horizontal slabs. An extension platform I may be suitably supported at the forward end of the machine. The weight of the ice tends to force the cake into and through the grid of cutting elements 5.

An opening is provided in the table I substantially at the end of the sloping portion where the ice'slabs deposit themselves after the cake moves through the vertical-grid. lnthis openingthere is suitably supported .a'horizontal rectangular frame 9 (Fig.3) whichsupports two grids similar to the vertical grid, .one above the other, the cutting elements 5 of which cross each other, that is, those of one grid-the upperrun longitudinally of the table and those of the other run transversely.

As the slabs of ice pass off the sloping portion of the table, they land on these horizontal grids of cutting elements 5 and by gravity are carried down through them and out upon the other four sides to form the cubes. the first twosides of the cubes having been cut by the vertical grid.

The cubes then drop downwardly upon a sloping grill 12 within the housing of the machine andout at an opening l3 into any suitable receiver.

To insure the slabs remaining nested properly when they. arrive on the horizontal grids, a handle M at the upper. part of the vertical grid frame housing is pulled-forwardly. This is attached by rod 5 to aforward-ly slidable end plate or sheet l5 having the side members IT which is thus brought up into contact with the ends of the moving slabs and holds themin place until the cut is finished after which the handle is moved back and the nested pack of slabs is deposited in proper position on the horizontal grids.

In a machine of this type it is desirable that the heating fluid should flow in. opposite'directions through adjacent cuttingtubes to obtain a more uniform distributionof heat over the entire area of the grids and thereby to avoid any tendency of one side ofthe block or cake of ice to out faster than the other withv consequent uneven cutting. This is accomplished by rumiing the-supply or inlet andthe-return or outlet'fiuid pipes along each side of the. grid frame adjacent the ends of the cutting tubes. Alternate cutting tubes are then connected to the supply pipe and the outlet pipe. At the opposite side of the frame the same thing is done but of course with the connectionsreversed. Thus, in'Figs. 2 and 4 the inlet and outlet supply pipes I 8 and I9, respectively, are shownat one-end of the vertical grid. Alternate cutting tubes are shown connected by looped tubes20 with the inlet and the outlet pipes 18 and It). At the other side of the grid frame the connections of the ends of-the cutting tubes are the same except with reversed connections, that is, the cutting tubes connected with the inlet at one end must be connected with the outlet at the other end.

The same arrangement is true of the horizontal grids. The supply or inlet pipe and the return or outlet pipe, 2| and 22 (Fig. 5), are run along the outside of the grid frame 9 adjacent the ends of the cutting tubes which are alternately connected by the loops 2!] to the supply and return. But here the supply and return pipes run along all four sides of the grid frame (Fig. 3) because of the two grids therein with their cutting elements running across both ways.

The foregoing features of a machine of this type'are disclosed more in detail in the said Pfeil patents and reference thereto may be had for same.

The fluid heated cutting element in the machine herein disclosed, shown more in detail in Figs. 6 to 11 and designated generally bytheinumeral;5, comprises a relatively small andthinwalled cutting tube 23 of any suitable material, preferably brass, through which the heating fluid, such as steam or hotwater, flows to heat the tube for the ice-cutting operation. To the rear side of this cutting tube'23, that is,-opposite the cutting face, there is firmly afifixed, :preferablyby brazing, a reflex member shownin the form of a rod 24 which functions to return the cutting tube to its original position. This member, preferably in the form of a'rod, is of strong spring steel such as tool steel drill rod and of substantially the same diameter as the cutting tube 23. The brazing material 25 preferably fills in the spaces between the tube and rod so that a substantially smooth surface or face is presented from one to the other on both sides.

The location of this reflex .member in the rear of the cutting tubes does not interfere with the ice' cutting operation-of the tube, thecutti-ng face or edge of which is gxposed and unobstructed as usual, and takes advantage of the "nonecutting side of: the tube for its attachment thereto and the room provided immediately in the rear of the tube forits passage betweenthe ice surfaces.

This reflex member extends throughout the length of the cutting tube-and is firmly'anchored with the tube in the end mounting bushings '26 as indicated :in Figs.'l0 and 11. The bushing is centrally drilled or bored for when which passes thereinto or therethrough and is slotted at2'l'for the endof the rod'f'i'd. Thesexparts,.the' tube, rod and bushing are-all secured together preferably by brazing as indicated in Fig. 11, the brazing metal 25 filling in and about the same, so that both tube and red are firmly anchored in and to the bushing and a strong'and unbreakable connection at the side mounting isprovided.

These bushings 2B of metal are generally cylin- I drical in form and serve to-provide more or less flexible spring mountings for the ends of the cutting elements in the grid frames. Their outer ends are provided with looped tubes 20 forming continuations of the cutting tubes and at their other ends are'detachably connected with the supply and return pipes by union connections 28 or otherwise.

At the outer end ofthe'bushing 26 a nut 29 is threaded thereon which'serves 'asan'adjustable abutment for the outer end-of a'strong coil spring 33 surrounding the bushing. The inner end of said spring bears against 'the adjacent grid frame mem er andexerts a strong tensionor pull on the cutting element'5. The gridframe is provided with slots 3| slightly narrower than the diameter of the bushings 28 and the latter is flattened on opposite sides, as shown at 32, to enable them to be slipped into said slot. This construction enables the bushings to tip slightly when the cutting element bows, as indicated in Fig. 8, during the cutting operation, to avoid a bending strain on the element at the bushing and to enable the bushing to assume an upright position again when the pressure on the cutting element is removed.

The bushings are preferably so related to the grid frame as properly to position the cutting tube for cutting the ice. In this particular construction with slots 3| extending perpendicularly from the edge of the frame member the bushings are flattened as at 32 in planes parallel to the common plane of the cutting tube and reflex rod, so that the tube and rod are held in the proper cutting plane or position.

Fig. 12 indicates in general the permanent bow or set the ordinary cutting tube 33 tends to assume after the cutting operation, though all tubes in the grid are not likely to set alike. This all results in the improper cutting operation of the machine and an undesired product.

With this new form of cutting element 5 the reflex member or rod controls the extent of bowing of the element during the cutting operation while permitting same to bow sufliciently to relieve the strain, and causes a more uniform action in this respect of all the cutting elements in a grid. At the same time the rod reflexes when the cutting operation ceases and the weight is removed from the grid, and by its inherent strength and spring action carries the cutting tube back to the original straight line position. Breakage of the tube at the mountings is prevented.

The cutting element is readily detachable and replaceable by disconnecting the unions 28 at the ends and slipping the bushings out of the slots in the grid frame.

Having thus described the invention and one manner of carrying it into effect and appreciating that various changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the principle or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid-heated cutting element for ice-cutting machines having grids of cutting elements for cutting ice, said cutting element comprising a brass tube for the passage of the heating fluid and for cutting the ice, and a reflex rod of tool steel drill rod affixed to the rear side of said tube to reflex and return the tube to normal position after the cutting operation.

2; A fluid-heated cutting element for ice-cutting machines having grids of cutting elements for cutting ice, said cutting element comprising a metallic tube for the passage of the heating fluid and for cutting the ice, a metal reflex rod extending the length of said tube and secured thereto to reflex and return said tube to normal position after the cutting operation, and supporting bushings for the end mountings of the said cutting element, the ends of said tube and rod being anchored in said bushings and said bushings having flattened sides parallel with the common plane of said rod and tube for reception in corresponding supporting slots in the machine.

3. In a machine for cutting cakes of ice into smaller portions, a grid of fluid-heated cutting elements including a frame and cutting elements extending thereacross, each of saidcutting elements comprising a fluid-heated cutting tube, a reflex rod aiflxed to and backing said tube, and supporting bushings secured to the ends of said tube and rod, said bushings having flattened sides fitting into slots in the frame of the grid, whereby the cutting element is presented and maintained in proper position for cutting.

4. A fluid-heated ice cutting element for ice cubing machines having grids of flexible cutting elements for cubing the ice, said ice cutting element comprising a thin walled tube of small diameter made of highly heat conductive material and a flexible rod secured to said tube and forming with the tube an element of suflicient composite elasticity to yield and thereby absorb disruptive shocks from the impact of an ice block thereagainst and to returnto its normal condition when relieved of the weight of such ice block.

5. A fluid-heated ice cutting element for ice cubing machines having grids of flexible cuttin elements for cubing the ice, said ice cutting element comprising a thin walled tube of small diameter for the passage of a heating fluid and a flexible rod extending the length of said tube and secured thereto and forming with the tube an element of suificient composite elasticity to yield and thereby absorb disruptive shocks from the impact of the ice block thereagainst and to return to its normal condition when relieved of the Weight of such ice block.

6. A fluid-heated ice cutting element for ice cubing machines having grids of flexible cutting elements for cubing the ice, said ice cutting element comprising a thin walled tube of small diameter for the passage of a heating fluid and a flexible rod extending the length of said tube and firmly aflixed to the rear of said tube and forming with the tube an element of suflicient composite elasticity to yield and thereby absorb disruptive shocks from the impact of the ice iblock thereagainst and to return to its normal condition when relieved of the weight of such ice block.

7. A fluid-heated ice cut-ting element for ice cubing machines having grids of flexible cutting elements forcubing the ice, said ice cutting element comprising a thin walled tube of small diameter for the passage of a heating fluid and a flexible rod extending the length of said tube and secured thereto and forming with the tube an element of sufiicient composite elasticity to yield and thereby absorb disruptive shocks from the impact of the ice block thereagainst and to return to its normal condition when relieved of the weight of such ice block and supporting bushings for the end mountings of said cutting element, the ends of said tube and said rod being anchored in said bushings.

8. A fluid-heated ice cutting element for ice cubin machines having grids of flexible cutting elements for cubing the ice, said ice cutting element comprising a thin walled tube of small diameter for the passage of a heating fluid and a flexible rod extending the length of said tube and firmly aflixed to the rear of said tube and forming with the tube an element of sufficient composite elasticity to yield and thereby absorb disruptive shocks from the impact of the ice block thereagainst and to return to its normal condition when relieved of the weight of such ice block, enlarged mounting [bushings for the ends of said cutting element, the ends of said tube and rod being solidly united and anchored to said bushings, and fluid connections for said tube extending through said bushings.

'9; A Huid-heated ibe cutting element for ice cubirig maehines =havirig 'giids of iflexible cutting elements "fr' 'cubing' the 'ice, said ice cutting element cor'n cirising"a "thin-walled tube of small diameter for the passage Of afhe'atingfiuid' and a. flexible rodextend'ing the len'gth' of said tube and secured theretoand fo'rniirig with the twbean elementofs'ufiicient composite elasticity'to yield and thereby absorb disruptive shocks from the impact of the ice block thereagainst and to return to' its normal condition When relieved of the weight of such iceblbek, supporting bushings for the"'end'm0untings of said tube, the 'ends of said tube and said rod beinganchore'd'in said bushings, and lo'oped connecting tubes for said heating tubeextendi'ng from the'outer en'ds ofsaid'bu'sh- Number Name Date 530,127 Pusey Decfii, 1894 982,040 -Day Jan. 17, 1911 1;016;550 Clark ;..."Feb.' 6, 1912 2,165,573 Pfeil July 11,1939 2,239,473 Uline Apri22, 194:1 

